Christine has lived on the streets of St. Louis for more than two decades.  Soon to turn 50, she doesn't share much about her family or childhood.  Because of paranoid schizophrenia, she has had no contact with her family for decades.  She has three children who would be in their twenties today.  Due to her illness and her inability to care for them, she lost custody when they were infants.  In addition to her mental illness, she has a long history of substance abuse, a commonly used, if ill-advised method to quiet the voices in her head.

Talk to the staff of any shelter in the city, and they will be able to tell you about Christine.  She's been in, and put out of, them all.  Her paranoia makes it difficult for her to be around other people.  She may seem to be a troublemaker, picking fights with the other residents, but it is really just her fear of others, a symptom of her paranoia, that causes her to become a "behavior problem."

Once a few years ago, Christine ahd some success in a closely monitored transitional program for mentally ill women.  she was on medication for her schizophrenia, and received help for her addicions.  She did well, but not well enough to maintain her own apartment after her two-year stay in the program came to an end.  In a matter of days she was back on the street.

What is the answer for someone like Christine and the 1,500 other St. Louisans who have been identified as "chronically" homeless?

Our answer is Safe Haven, a nationally proven best practice and key component in St. Louis' plan to end chronic homelessness.

© 2004 Peter & Paul Community Services, Inc.
1025 Park Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63104-3720
314.588.7111 fax:314.621.9875
ppcsinc@ppcsinc.org